Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Former Cleveland Cavaliers big man Channing Frye took to social media to show his support for guard Donovan Mitchell after the Cavs knocked off the Detroit Pistons in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Sunday.
Frye praised Mitchell’s leadership and ability to do what was “needed” to help the Cavs make the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since LeBron James left the franchise for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Mitchell had a huge Game 7 on Sunday, scoring 26 points on 10-of-22 shooting while pulling down six rebounds and dishing out eight assists. The Cavs were +17 in the star guard’s minutes and ended up winning 125-94 on the road to close out the series.
This postseason, Mitchell is averaging 25.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 31.1 percent from 3-point range. The seven-time All-Star has seen his scoring drop compared to last year’s playoff run, but the Cavs have now made it out of the second round for the first time since he joined the franchise.
Cleveland will now turns its focus to the Eastern Conference Finals and the New York Knicks, who stormed through the second round by sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers.
New York won two of three meetings against the Cavs in the regular season, but only one of those games (the one that Cleveland won) came after the team acquired former league MVP James Harden.
Frye is clearly impressed with how Mitchell has handled himself during this playoff run, and the Cavs have been tested in each of their two series.
They went to seven games in the first round against the Toronto Raptors, winning all four games at home to advance. Then, they responded from a loss in Game 6 against Detroit to win a second game on the road (they also won Game 5 in Detroit) to win the series.
Hopefully, Mitchell will continue to play at a high level in the Eastern Conference Finals as the Cavs look to get back to the NBA Finals for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
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